Punchestown Day Three

There are five meetings taking place this afternoon with jumps cards from Perth, Taunton and Market Rasen while there are flat cards from Beverley and Chelmsford City. Meanwhile, it is day three of the Punchestown Festival and the trainers' championship between messrs Elliott and Mullins is getting very close with Gordon ahead by £200,000.  I was watching the racing from Punchestown yesterday and I have to say that while I am a big fan of Ruby Walsh, I didn't think his ride aboard Penhill was up to his usual exceptional standards...maybe I am just talking through my pocket (again)?!

Onto Scu Watch and our stable jockey picked up a winning outside ride yesterday to take his seasonal total onto 98 with three days of the season remaining.  He travels to Market Rasen today where he has some reasonable prospects.  It seems to be a bit like cricket when you get into the 'nervous 90's' - the last few are always the hardest to get.

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Ronnie O'Sullivan crashed out of the world snooker championships yesterday, being beaten 13-10 by Ding Junhui in their quarter-final.  Ronnie did make a tournament highest break of 146 but without him in the competition I think a lot of people will lose interest.  World number one Mark Selby looked very good in beating Marco Fu 13-3 and he looks to be a worthy favourite to retain his crown - he played so well that you would be just a little concerned that he may have peaked too early.

Footballer Joey Barton looks as though he has been a complete idiot.  He was banned by the FA yesterday for 18 months for his betting activity - the ban will likely end his career.  Where he has been stupid is by betting against his own team to lose - he has not had any big bets, just lots of small ones.  Just think, he has been sat in the dressing room with his team mates having backed them to lose - that's loyalty for you.  I personally don't see anything wrong with betting on matches that you have no involvement in, but to bet in games in which you are playing is just plain stupid.

Talking of football, there is a cracking match on Sky Sports tonight at 8pm as Manchester City take on Manchester United.  That will please Mrs Barnes as it will be the fourth night running that there has been football on the television.  10/11 City will do for me.

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Thought for the day...sea sickness usually comes in waves!  Keep smiling...

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